Laundry apparatus



Nov. 18, 1930. A. w. ALTORFER LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed March 4, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l E D T H E v H l 1930' A. w. ALTORFER LAUNDRY APPARATUS 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4 Patented Nov. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES,

ALPHEUS W. ALTORFER, F PEORIA, ILLINOIS,,ASSIGNOB TO ALTORFER BROS. COM

PATENT OFFICE PANY, OF EAST PEORIA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS LAUNDRY APPARATUS Application filed March 4,

water from the materials and discharge such water into a suitable receptacle.

The invention has for its principal object to provide the extractor with a housing rotatably supported at the upper end of the revolvable receptacle; such housing having a hinged cover or lid provided with a centering means adapted, when the cover or lidis closed, to coact and rotate with said receptacle, and said housing having a conduit or drain for the water discharged from said receptacle, and also a transfer spout overlying said conduit or drain, which serves as a shelf portion when transferring materials from the extractor to a rinse tub or other receptacle or basket, or vice versa.

The invention has for a further object to provide for an extractor, a. housing supported to be manually moved circumferentially about the upper end of said extractor; said housing having a spout, arranged during its movement to be brought coincident with and overlie a washing tub, rinse tub or other receptacle, and having an opening concentric with the extracting member and through which removal and replacement of said member may be made; a cover or lid having a hinged connection with said housing to cover said opening, and movable to closed and open 'position, regardless of the position of said housingand whether or not said extracting member is in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide for an extractor, a housing supported to be rotated about the upper end of the extracting member, and having a chamber to receive water dischargedfrom said extracting member and in communication with a conduit or dram; said housing terminating at oneslde 1n a radially arranged transfer spout, adapted when said housing is rotated tobe placed coincident with and over a wash-.

1927. S erialNo.172,644.

ing tub, rinse tub or other receptacle, over which clothes and other articles aretrans ferred from the extracting member or to the sam e.-

The invention has for a still further object to provide for an extractor, a housing supported to be moved manually and circumferentially about the upper end ofthe ex-- tracting member; to provide a ring-like shroud for the upper end of the extracting member having a water deflecting surface and openings, whereby water discharged from the extracting member enters the housing in a substantially horizontal plane; to provide a hinged cover for said housing and a centering means movable therewith and adapted when the cover is closed to coact with said shroud and said extracting member, said shroud further functioning as an abutment to receive any upward ,thrust of materials within the extracting member instead of directly on said centering member; said housing having a discharge conduit or drain and an overlying transfer spout extending radially from said housing, adapted to be positioned over a washing tub, rinse tub or other receptacle over which clothes and other articles are transferred from and to said ex tractor.

Other and further objects will more fully appear.

That the invention may be more fully understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming part of the description, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view on a greatly reduced scale, showing my invention associated with a washing machine;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of Fig. 1, the lower part of the machine, which forms no part of my invention being omitted; 7

Fig. 3 is a cross-section, on a somewhat larger scale, showing the upper end of an extracting member and my invention associated therewith; t Fig. 4 is a plan view in section, as the same would appear on the line M Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective showing a shroud therefor, and openings for the pasof the tub, and operated from a suitable source of power, not shown.

A casting 1, of suitable shape, serves both as a frame structure for the upper part of the tub A and as the supporting frame or structure for the head portion of the extractor, which includes an extracting member 2,

preferably inverted cone shape open at its upper end and arranged to be operatively connected with an operating shaft 3 adapted to be actuated from the same source of power, not shown, as the shaft 12 of the tub A, and separately or simultaneously therewith. Said member 2 is a clothes or other article receiving receptacle in which materials taken from the tub A are placed for drying. The member being rotated at. high speed and .during such rotation the free water in said materials is extracted through centrifugal action and the water so extracted is caused to take an upward direction, as indicated by' the arrows in Fig. 3, and discharged from said receptacle into a housing, to be described; the latter supported to be manually and circumferentially moved about the upper end of said receptacle.

The wall of said receptacle 2, at its upper end is turned outwardly and slightly downwardly, as at 3 and to such turned portion is preferably secured, by riveting or otherwise, a ring-like shroud 4, adapted to revolve with said receptacle; the greater portion of the width of said shroud lying within or over the inner parlnof said receptacle, with its inner edge turneddownwardly, as at 5 so asto present or. provide a water deflecting surface-6 on its underside, whereby water rising within the receptacle 2 is deflected outwardly and discharged in an approximately radial direction from said receptacle and said shroud further functions to receive any upward thrust of materials in said receptacle. The outer or peripheral portion of saidrshroud is fluted, as at 7, see Fig. 5, to provide water egress openings 8. The inner turned edge 5 of the shroud is of a diameter to provide a suficient opening into the receptacle for the placement and removal of clothes and other articles.

The supporting frame of the casting 1 for the upper end of the extractor is ring-like in cross-section, as at 9, encircled by and through which the receptacle 2 extends, see

Fig. 3. Said ring-like frame is off-set, at 10, to provide a reduced ring-like head 11 thereabove having an opening 12 through which the receptacle 2 extends. The outer surface of said ring-like head His tapered downwardly and inwardly, as at 13, to provide in connection with a housing to be described a wedge like surface, for a purpose to be explained.

14 designates a housing, preferably circular in cross-section, see Figs. 1 and 2, and said housing is formed or provided with an outer vertical and circular-like wall 15; a top wall 16 with a circular opening 17 having a'diameter of sufiicient width to allow for the place-- ment and removal 'of the receptacle 2therethrough and the shroud 4 connected thereto; a bottom wall 18 adapted to rest and be rotated on the head wall 11 of the supporting frame 1, with said ottom wall turned up vertically as at 19 which is of a diameter to encircle the receptacle 2 and with its upper edge lying immediately beneath and in the outwardly turned portion 3 of said receptacle 2. The walls 15, 16, 18 and 19 of said housing 14 provide therewithin a chamber 20 to receive the water discharged from the receptacle 2 through the openings 8. The walls 15 and 18 of said housing, together with the top wall 16 are so shaped as to provide a radial extension 21 from said housing; whereby to provide a conduit or drain 22 in communication with the chamber 20, through which water is drained and adapted to leave said conduit or drain through a preferably elongated discharge opening 23 opening out of the lower portion and at the extreme end of. said radial extension 21. The top wall 16 of this radial extension 21, from the top of the housing to the lower wall thereof, is preferably curved downwardly and with an inclined surface 24 which presents a transfer spout overlying the conduit or drain 22, over which clothes and other articles are passed from and to the receptacle 2. This spout has side walls 25 which merge in an upstanding flange 26 encircling the greater portion of said housing 14 and the opening 17 in the wall 16 thereof. Referring to Fig. 1 the shadedlines on the surface of the radial extension 21, indicate that the transfer surface of the spout slopes inwardly and then downwardly and outwardly, whereby to facilitate the easy discharge of materials thereover; and the dotted lines on the spout when viewed in connection with Fig. 7 indicate that the elongated opening 23 of the conduit or drain therein is only of sufiicient length and so centered as to insure water discharged therethrough entering a tub or receptacle placed therebeneath. It being apparent that when the housing has been rotated to present the radial extension 21 thereof over atub or other receptacle that this opening should be sufficiently restricted in length to overlie the curved wall of a tub or other receptacle, so as to insure that the' water discharged from the housing will not run down the outside of any such tub or receptacle, but be discharged thereinto.

The outer wall 15 of the rotatable housing 14 extends below the bottom wall 18 and overlies and is next adjacent to the off-set of arrangement leaves an annular space 26' between the parts 13 and and in this space are placed a plurality of preferably wedge shaped members 27, certain of which are preferably fixedly attached to the wall of the housing 14 by screws 28, whereby these members can be removed. One of such members, see Fig. 4 has a seat 29 to receive the reduced end of a threaded member 30 which is threaded through the wall of the housing 14 and on its outer end is provided with a finger grip 31 for adjusting said member 30.

Ordinarily the housing 14 is free to be moved circumferentially about the extractor, as will be apparent, and when it has been rotated so as to bring the'radial extension 21 to aproper position over a tub or other receptacle, upon turning up the member 30 it may be held securely and fixed in any such adjusted position or positions. It should be further apparent that by turning up'the member 30-the wedging action of the members 27 will hold the housing securely against sidewis'e, vertical and circumferential movement,

and said members 27 will also prevent vibration or chattering of the housing on its suport. P It is to be observed that that portion ofthe frame 1 supporting the housing 14, supports the housing and particularly the radial extension 21 in such an elevated position relative to the/ top of the tub A, that an attendant taking hold of the extension 21 and swinging the same over and above the tub A will run no danger of the hand or fingers being hurt, as the height is' such that the hand or fingers will not come into engagement with the upper edge of the tub.

I provide the housing 14 with a cover or lid 32 which is hinged atone side, as at 33, see Fig. 1 to the housing, the flange 26 being cut away to provide for this connection. This cover or lid is adapted when closed to overlie and cover the opening 17 in the top wall of the housing, and such cover or lid, diametrically opposite its hinge portion, is provided with a tapered extension 34, see Fig. 6, which,

when the. lid is closed lies within a cut out portion of the flange 26 and a lever 35 pivoted on the side wall of the housing 14 has a cam engaging portion 36 adapted to ride over and against said tapered extension 34 of the lid To the cover or lid is connected a centering device for the upper end of the receptacle 2, and when said cover or lid is closed, said centering device is suspended thereby over and in rotative engagement with the shroud 4 and said receptacle 2; it being understood that while the centering device is rotative, the cover or lid 32 which supports the same is not, except that said cover or lid is capable of being rotated with and when the housing is manually and circumferentially moved around or about said receptacle 2 to position its spout over a tub or other receptacle. Such centering device'comprises an annulus plate 37 formed or provided on its under surface and near its periphery with a surface formation adapting it to rest on and have an impinging engagement with the shroud 4, when the cover or lid 32 is securely closed, whereby the plate 37 will rotate with the shroud 4 and receptacle 2. To attach the plate 37 to the cover or lid 32, said plate is formed or provided with an annular seat 38 which is threaded at its upper open end to receive a nut 39 and through the nut passes a stem 40 having a reduced threaded end passthe plate to the shroud 4 for centering the same. The seat 38 in which the anti-friction bearing is contained or housed is of such construction, as will be seen, that the same may be easily lubricated without danger of the materials coming into contact therewith or leaking on the, same. Theplate 37 while it primarily functions as a centering means, it is obvious that it also serves as a cover for the open upper end of the receptacle 2 preventing any splashing of the water out of the receptacle and further insuring the egress w of the water from the receptacle through the openings 8. p

What I claim is I 1. In combination with a centrifugal extractor, a ring-like shroud for the upper end of said extractor having a deflecting surface and openings to direct water radially from said extractor, a housing including a radial shelf extension, the same being supported to be manually and circumferentially moved about said extractor to position said shelf in adjusted positions above diflerent receptacles, a cover for said housing to allow access to be had to said extractor and arranged to be moved with said housing and to be opened and closed in any position of said housin and during the rotation or non-rotation or said extractor, and a revolvable member carried by said cover, adapted when the cover is in closed position to engage said shroud,

form a closure for the extractor and center the upper end of said extractor concentric with the axis of said housing.

2. In combination with a centrifugal extractor, a ring-like shroud for the upper end of'said extractor having a deflecting surface and openings to direct water radially from said extractor, a housing including a radial shelf extension, the same being supported to be manually and circumferentially moved about said extractor to position said shelf in adjusted positions above different receptacles, acover hinged to said housing to allow access to be had to said extractor and arranged to be moved with said housing and to be opened and'closed in any position of said housing and during the rotation or non-rotation of said extractor, and a revolvable member carrled by said cover, adapted when the cover is in closed pos t-1011' to engage said shroud,

form a closure for the extractor and center the upper end of said extractor concentric with the axis of said housing.

3. In combination with a centrifugal extractor, a ring-like shroud for the upper end of said extractor having a deflecting surface and openings to direct water radially from said extractor, a housing including a radial shelf extension, the same being supported to be manually and circumferentially moved about said extractor to position said shelf in adjusted positions above diflerent'receptacles,

a cover for said housing to allow access to be had to said extractor and arranged to be moved with said housing and to be opened and closed inany position of said housing and during the rotation or non-rotation of said extractor, and a revolvable member carried by said cover, adapted when the cover is in closed position to engage said shroud,

form a closure for the extractor and center the upper end of said extractor concentric with the axis of said housing, said member having a connection with said cover which will permit it to flex in relation to said housing and said extractor, whereby to center said extractor.

4. In combination with a centrifugal extractor, a ring-like shroud for the upper end of said extractor having a deflecting surface and openings to direct water radially from said extractor, a housing including a radial shelf extension, the same being supported to be manually and circumferentially moved about said extractor to position said shelf in adjusted positions above different receptacles, a cover hinged to said housing to allow access to be had to said extractor and arranged to be moved with said housing and to be opened and closed inany position of said housing and during the rotation or non-rotation of said extractor, and a revolvable member carried by said cover, adapted when the cover is in closed position to engage said shroud, form a closure for the extractor and center the upper end of said extractor concentric with the axis of said housing, said member having a connection with said cover which will permit it to flex in relation to said housing and said extractor, whereby to center said extractor.

5. In combination with a centrifugal extractor, a housing supported to be manually and circumferentially moved about said extractor, said housing having an opening concentric with said extractor and provided with a radial transfer spout adapted to be positioned" over different receptacles and over which materials are passed to and from said extractor and with an underlying discharge conduit in communication with said housing, and a cover for the opening in said housing toallow access to be had to said extractor and arranged to be moved with said housing and to be opened and closed in any position of said housing and during the rotation or nonrotation of said extractor.

6. In combination with a centrifugal extractor, a housing supported to be manually and circumferentially moved about said extractor, said horising having an opening concentric with said extractor and provided with a radial transfer spout adapted to be positioned over different receptacles and over which materials are passed to and from said extractor and with an underlying discharge conduit in communication with said housing, and a hinged cover for the opening in said housing to allow access to. be had to said extractor and arranged to be moved with said housing and to be opened and closed in any position of said housing and during the rotationor non-rotation of said extractor.

7'. In combination with a centrifugal extractor, a housing supported to be manually and circumferentially moved about said extractor, said housing having an opening concentric with said extractor and provided with a radial transfer spout adapted to be positionedover different receptacles and over 2 center the upper end of said extractor con centric with the axis of said housing.

8. In combination with a centrifugal extractor, a housing supported to be manually and circumferentially moved about said 'extractor, said housing having an opening concentric with said extractor and provided with a radial transfer spout adapted to be positioned over different receptacles and over which materials are passed to and from said ing and to be opened and closed in any posi tion of said housing and during the rotation or non-rotation of said extractor, and a revolvable member carried by said cover,

, adaptedwhen the cover is in closed position to engage and center the upper end of said 4 extractor concentric with the axis of said housing.

9. In combination with a centrifugal extractor, a housing supported to be manually and circumferentially moved about said extractor, said housing having an opening concentric with said extractor and provided with a radial transfer spoutadapted to be positioned over different receptacles and over which materials are passed to and from said extractor and with an underlying discharge conduit in communication with said housing,

a cover for the opening in said housing to allow access to be had to said extractor and arranged to be moved with said housing and to be opened and closed in any posit-ion of said housing and during the rotation or non-rotation of said extractor, and a revolvable member carried by said cover, adapted when the cover is in closed position to engage and center the upper end of said extractor concentric with the axis of said housing, said member having a connection with said cover which will permit it to flex in relation to said housing and said extractor, whereby to center said extractor.

10. In combination with a centrifugal extractor, a housing supported to be manually and circumferentially moved about said extractor, saidhousing having an openlng concentric with said extractor and provided with a radial transfer spout adapted to be posi-.

tioned over different receptacles and over which materials are passed to and from said extractor and with an underlying discharge conduit in communication with said housing,

a hinged cover for the opening in said hous-- ing to allow access to be had to said extractor and arranged to be moved with said housing and to be opened and closed in any position of said housing and during the rotation or non'- rotation of said extractor and a revolvable member carried by said cover, adapted when the cover is in closed position to engage and center the upper end of said extractor concentric with the axis of said housing, said memher having a connection with said cover which will permit it to flex in relation to said housing and said extractor, whereby to center said extractor.

11. In combination with a centrifugal extractor, a housing supported to be manually and circumferentially moved about said extractor, said housing having an opening concentric with said extractor and provided with ,a radial transfer spout adapted to be positioned over different receptacles and over which materials are passed to and from said extractor and with an underlying discharge conduit in communication with said housing, a cover forthe opening in said housing to allow access to be had to said extractor and arranged to be moved with said housing and to to be opened and closed in any position of said housing and during the rotation or nonrotation of said extractor, and means for securing said housing in various circumferen-, tial positions about said extractor.

12. In combination with a centrifugal extractor, a supporting frame encircling said extractor below its upper open end and having a shouldered portion providing a headring the peripheral surface of which is in clined, a housing including a radial shelf extension, the same being supported by said frame to be manually and circumferentially moved about said extractor to position said shelf in adjusted positions above different receptacles, wedge-like spacing means between a wall of said housing and the inclined surface of said head-ring, and adjustable means engaging one of said spacing means to lock said housing in various circumferential positions about said extractor.

13. In combination with a centrifugal extractor, a supporting frame encircling said extractor below its upper open end and having a shouldered portion providing a headring the peripheral surface of which is inclined, a housing including a radial shelf extension, the same being supported by said frame to be manually and circumferentially moved about said extractor to position said shelf in adjusted positions above different receptacles, wedge-like spacing means between a wall of said housing and the inclined surface of said head ring, adjustable means engaging one of said spacing means to lock said housing in various circumferential positions about said extractor, and a cover for said housing to allow access to be had to said ex tractor and arranged to be moved with said housing and to be opened and closed in any position of said housing and during the rotation or non-rotation of said extractor.

14. In combination with a centrifugal extractor, a housing supported to be manually and circumferentially moved about the upper end of said extractor and having a radial extension forming a shelf over which materials are passed to and from the extractor and also provided yith a conduit underlying said shelf in communication with said housing to conduct water therefrom received from said extractor, said conduit terminating in a downtractor, a housing supported to be manually and circumferentially moved about the upper end of said extractor and having a radial extension forming a shelf over which materials are passed to and from the extractor and also provided with a conduit underlying said shelf in communication with said housing to conduct water therefrom received from said extractor, said conduit terminating in a downwardly directed discharge opening, and a cover for said housing to allow access to be had to said extractor and arranged to be moved with said housing and to be opened and closed in any position of said housing and during the rotation or non-rotation of said extractor.

16. In combination with a centrifugal extractor, a housing having a radial shelf extractor, a housing having a radial shelf extension supported to be manually and circumferentially revolved about said extractor,

a revolvable and combined closure andcentering member for said extractor, a supportmg member of said centerlng member arranged to rest on the top of said housing, a

connecting means between said members,

whereby they may be placed and removed together, means interposed between said centering member and said extractor for deflecting water discharged by said extractor approximately radia ly into said housing, and means separate from both said members for locking said housing in various positions.

18. In combination with a centrifugal ex tractor, a housing supported to be manually and circumferentially revolved about said extractor and enclosing a water chamber havin a downwardly directed outlet and a trans er shelf partitioned from said outlet spout, a revolvable and combined closure and centering member for said extractor, a supporting member for said centering member arranged to rest on the top of said housing,

a connecting means between said members,

whereby they may be placed and removed toget-her, and means separate from both said members for locking said housing in various I positions. 19. In combination with a, centrifugal extractor, a housing supported to be manually and circumferentially revolved about said extractor and enclosing a water chamber having a downwardly directed outlet and a transfer shelf partitioned from said outlet spout,

said conduit.

a revolvable end combined closure and cen- 20. A revolvable housing for a centrifugal extractor, including a water receiving and conducting chamber having a radially arranged conduit and discharge opening therefor and a transfer shelf partitioned from 21. In combination, an imperforate centrifugal receptacle having a turned over upper edge, a ring-like shroud attached to said turned over edge of said receptacle and having an under concave water deflecting surface and water egress openings at its outer edge, whereby water discharged from said receptacle will pass radially below said shroud through said openings. 7

22. In combination, an imperforate centrifugal receptacle having a turned over upper edge, a ring-like shroud attached to said turned over edge of said receptacle and projecting a comparatively short distance annularly within the receptacle and having an under concave water deflecting surface and water egress openings at 'its' outer edge, whereby water discharged from said receptacle will pass radially below said shroud through said openings, a centering plate adapted for engagement with said shroud and to cover the opening therethi'ough, and a movable supporting member for said plate. 23. In combination, a tapered centrifugal 'lmperforate clothes holding receptacle, where water extracted from the clothes will pass up and over the edge of said receptacle, and a deflecting ring attached to the upper edge of said receptacle and disposed annularly of and partially within said receptacle and having an under concave surface and water egress openings at its outer edge through which water discharged from the receptacle may pass.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my hand this 1st day of March, 1927. ALPHEUS .W. ALTORFER. 

